I have put three similar boxes not so pretty but like basic blue tit boxes with a bee sized hole up in my garden on fence posts about foot off the ground with old blue tit nest material in for insulation and possibly to provide an appropriate smell.I try to put it in a place where it will keep reasonably dry ,gets some sunshine though not full on all the time. I notice queen bees when exploring seem to follow linear features such as walls and fences rather than roundabout in the open.

Over four years have had early bumblebees use one of the boxes successfully three times.

A queen bee tried this year but as we had summery weather in march followed by polar weather with 5” snow in april she lost the battle.

Another queen of the same species was succesful with a nest in a turf pile I had made with buried terracotta pots with mouse and bird nest material in,that must have been a bit warmer.Last year a white tailed bumblebee nest was succesful in the same turf pile.I live in Morayshire so the need for a warm home is important.
Best of luck Steve

I put large flower pots in turf piles from when i dig up my lawn to extend vegetable plots.Arrange in “bays"and pile leaves into these to accomodate frogs and toads etc. from pond.
Bury large flower pots in these and leave small access hole exposed and sometimes put in a bit of hosepipe for access.
It isn’t always easy to see if bees are using “official” site or some other cavity once grass has grown up and obscured it all.they don’t like grass too long though i’ve noticed can do a bit of trimming themselves.I always put bedding in.
Early bees seem happy with bluetit sized nestbox though have read bufftailed like something size of a football.
Am going to try under paving slabs and under rocks for next spring.I read that redtailed like under rocks.

Steve: I find it really hard to visualise that - any chance of a picture?

Hi Malcolm am afraid i haven’t quite reached the 21st century yet it seems a bit scarier than the last one so don’t have digital camera but will try to get someone to take a photo sometime .It’s best to just experiment ,just make sure the pots are completely covered apart from an entrance hole,i saw something on tv once where they nested in some part of an old car so they aren’t proud.I lifted a paving slab in a friend’s garden once and dug a hole underneath about football size in the middle then put back with a tiny entrance hole in the corner,it wasn’t used probably as it was a sunless garden but will try again in a sunny spot this winter when i’ve found some more mouse bedding.Steve

Hi can I just call you Cheery?hope it helps but don’t be too disapointed if they don’t use them,
at the moment i have at least 8 potential sites contrived for them and have only had maximum of 2 used in any one year.i always give boxes a good clean after use in case of infection but wouldn’t use disinfectant as feel the smell wouldn’t be right.

We have already started an ‘insect hotel’ under the home made arbour…it’s just full of spiders atm altho we have things like ladybirds, lacewings etc in there in the wiinter. I might site it under there…we rarely sit there.

Malcolm, I’ve not used dried cow parsley stems myself but I have read they they are just the job.
This year I left a couple of parsnips to flower (for hover flies) and have now cut down the stems, they are hollow too so will give them a try. I believe that parsnips and cow parsley are related.

I have tried putting up boxes filled with various sized plant stems but without success.Someone told me where i live in Forres,Morayshire is too cold for bees that would have to sit in a small tube through near polar conditions till next spring which seems to make sense.Maybe better down south?We get a lot of mining bees in the sandy soil and they seem to like nesting amongst birds foot trefoil that only sparsely cover the ground.hope to attract common blue and dingy skipper butterflies as well eventually.